Archive for the ‘Malaria’ Category

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health reported that resveratrol may be used to treat severe malaria. The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, revealed that resveratrol significantly reduces the ability of parasite infected red blood cells from sticking to the cells lining small blood vessels – thereby decreasing the chances of developing severe malaria. According to the study’s author, "Our results demonstrate the possibility of a new therapy to treat severe malaria.”

Editor's Note: Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The parasites enter the liver, mature into another form of parasite, and then enter the bloodstream where they infect red blood cells. Symptoms of malaria include anemia, chills, convulsions, fever, nausea, sweating, vomiting and possible death.

According to the CDC between 190 and 311 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2008. Unfortunately, 708,000 to 1,003,000 of these cases resulted in death (note: most of these deaths were young children in sub-Saharan Africa).